Method and apparatus for lining a grinding mill

ABSTRACT

A method of securing a liner assembly with a grinding mill by spacing alternate rows of liners and lifters within the shell of the mill, urging the lifters against adjacent liners, and wedging the lifters against portions of the shell to maintain wedging engagement between the lifters and liners. The preferred apparatus for carrying out the method includes liner elements urged against the shell between lifter elements by wedging means between the lifter elements and upstanding portions of the shell.

United States Patent 1 Mix [451 Apr. 9, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINING A GRINDING MILL Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond [75] Inventor: Wolfram York Attorney, Agent, or FirmBoyce C. Dent; Oscar B. [73] Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, Brumback; Olin E. Williams [22] Filed: Feb.2,.1972 211 Appl. No.2 222,935 [57] ABSTRACT r A method of securing a liner assembly with a grinding [52] US. Cl. 241/183, 241/181 7 mill by Spacing alternate rows of liners and lifters [51] Int. Cl. B024: 17/22 within th h ll of t m g g t ift s aga nst [58] Field of Search ..L 241/ 181, 183 adjacent liners, and wedging the lifters against portions of the shell to maintain wedging engagement be- ['56] References Cited tween the lifters and liners.- The preferred apparatus UMTED STATES PATENTS for carrying out the method includes liner elements 2611546 9/1952; POW 241/183 urged against the shell between lifter elements by 3:211:58? 10/1965 "Russell et al:1:213:34l/l83 x wedging means the lifter elemems and 3,599,882 8/1971 S abaski et a] 241/183 x Slandmg Pom"nS of the shell-t FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10 Claims, 8 Drawing; Figures 8,619 4/1914 Great Britain 24l/l83 I 112% I36 42 Y m 42 I02 38 I 7 42 86a 44 43 96 44 I34 86 7 I08 1 3 72b 34 4 I k 7.34 3 4 38 I00 42 2 8 7 iv 6 6 96' x 4 4 c "2M \M t b-t A? r I32 94 4 no 35 I04 45 4 84 88 Il 92 m 92 PATENTEDAPR 9M4 $802,634

SHEEI 2 BF 2 mirmnnn ml METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINING A GRINDING MILL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention relates to the grinding mill structure disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 305,435 filed on November 10, 1972 by Robert J. Russell entitled Liner For Grinding Mills and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to solid material comminution by contact between relatively moving portions of material and particularly to wear-face to backing connections for grinding mills.

2. Description of the Prior Art Grinding mills generally utilize a substantially cylindrical shell made of heavy steel plate. Crude ore is fed into the shell for processing and the shell is continuously rotated until the ore is reduced to a desired particle size. Various types of mills utilize rods, tubes and balls as media to aid in the grinding of the crude ores. Other mills utilize the autogenous grinding method where the ore is its own grinding media, or semiautogenous method where a mixture of ore and steel charge is used as the grinding media.

Grinding mill shells must be able to withstand continuous impacts and abrasion caused by movement of the ore within the rotating shell. To move the ore and protect the steel shell, the inner peripheral surface of the mill shell is usually lined with a hardened liner assembly. Generally, liner assemblies comprise a plurality of substantially fiat liner members individually bolted to the inner surface of the shell between which rows of lift-bars are also bolted to the shell. Sometimes the liner members are bolted directly to the shell and have raised rib portions on their work surfaces thus excluding the need for separate lift-bars. The liner members protect the shell of the mill and the ribs or lift-bars lift the ore toward the top of the rotating shell to a point where gravity causes the ore to tumble toward the bottom of the shell where it is reduced in size by impact with pieces of ore or with the liner and lifter members. In mills using grinding media, as previously mentioned, the lift-bars tend to lift the grinding media in the same manner described for the ore. Thus, the grinding media also tumbles toward the bottom of the shell and impacts against the ore.

Therefore, it can be seen that liner assemblies are exposed to continuous high impact loads and abrasion during normal operation which wears out the liners. Thus, periodic replacement of the liner or portions thereof is required.

Liner assemblies are customarily bolted to the inner peripheral surface of the mill shell by bolts extending from inside the mill, passing through the liners or lifters and then through the shell. The bolts are secured by nuts tightened against packing washers and steel washers to prevent leakage of ore fines through the shell. Individual sections of liners and lift-bars are bolted to the shell and generally extend over the entire inner surface including portions of the ends or heads of the shell. As a result, a large number of bolts are required to secure a liner assembly in place. In addition to the expense of replacing broken bolts and the problem of leakage through bolt holes in the shell,the use of such a large number of bolts requires considerable down time when liner sections are to be replaced. Each individual bolt must be re-installed to secure the new liner sections in place.

Continuous impact of the ore against the linings often causes the bolts to fret in the holes and sometimes elongates the holes. Leakage of ore fines may occur and eventually it may be necessary to drill the holes oversize and put bushings in them so that the bolts are effective in securing the liner sections to the shell.

Lift-bars also tend to overturn from the forces of heavy impact of the ore against them. Such forces induce tensile and bending moments in the bolts securing the bars against the shell; the bolts sometimes elongate or shear resulting in loose lifters; as the bolts elongate or bend, the entire liner assembly may shift thereby making replacement of the liner assembly particularly difficult.

Another problem is that the exterior of the entire mill is often inaccessible since mills are sometimes mounted high above the ground or even partially in pits..It is difficult to rotate large mills and stop them exactly where the bolts and nuts will be accessible for replacement. Therefore, for this and other reasons it is advantageous to be able to replace the liner assembly completely from within the mill.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for securing liner assemblies within the shell of a grinding mill which overcomes the disadvantages usually present in conventional liner assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and further objects and novel features are generally accomplished by spacing alternate rows of liners and lifters within the shell of a grinding mill and urging the lifters against both portions of the shell and against adjacent liners to maintain engagement between the lifters and liners to hold the liners in place. Preferably, wedging means are used to wedge the lifters against upstanding portions of the shell tomaintain the lifters against the liners and to secure the lifters to the shell.

More specifically, the shell includes longitudinally extending guide or anchor means spaced at intervals around the inner periphery of the shell, including the ends or heads of the shell, on which the lifters are supported and securely wedged. The liners are situated between the lifters and are held in place by correspondingly tapered sides on the liners and lifters or by shoulder portions on the lifters that overlap the top surfaces of the liners. The wedging means holding the lifters against the guide means preferably comprises split keys or pins wedged into a number of transverse aligned passages in the lifters and guide means. In this manner, the complete liner assembly is held in place within the shell without the use of bolts extending through the shell; thus, replacement of the liner assembly can be accomplished completely within the mill.

g The above and further objects and novel features will appear more fully from the following detailed descrip tion when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are not intended as a definition of the invention but are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings wherein like parts are marked alike:

FIG. I is a side elevation in partial cross-section of a grinding mill generally illustrating the liner assembly of the present invention secured to the inner periphery of the shell, including the ends of the shell;

FIG. 2 is a partial end view of the mill taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 illustrating the interior of the discharge end of the mill and the radial convergence of the liners and lifters of the lining assembly in the end of the mill;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged axial section of a portion of the outer periphery of the shell taken along line III-III of FIG. 1 illustrating the wedging engagement of. the lifters to the guide means by three types of wedging means and wedging engagement of the lifters against the liners;

FIG. 4 is a side view in cross-section of the left-hand portion of FIG. 3 taken along line IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a side view in cross-section of the center portion of FIG. 3 taken along line V-V;

FIG. 6 is a side view in cross-section of the right-hand portion of FIG. 3 taken along line VIVI;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section of a portion of the discharge end of the shell taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 1 illustrating the assembly of the liners and lifters to the grate portion of the discharge end and another embodiment of a lifter; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the portion illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The liner assembly of the present invention is shown in connection with an autogenous grinding mill 10 generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mill includes a shell generally denoted by numeral 12 which includes a cylindrical shell portion 13 having a radially tapering feed end portion 14 and a similar discharge end portion 16. Each of the ends 14 and 16 include a trunnion l8 and 19 respectively which supports the mill 10 for rotation in bearings (not shown) in the conventional manner. The feed end 14 includes a stationary feed chute 20 supported outside the mill (supports not shown) extending within trunnion 18 through which ore is introduced into the interior of the mill 10 along a feed cone 22 secured to trunnion 18. The discharge end 16 includes a grate 24 spaced from the end of the shell 16 to provide a space 26 for receiving ore fines for discharge out of the mill 10 through the inside of cone 30 secured inside of trunnion 19. Cone 28 defines the inner periphery of the space 26 adjacent discharge cone 30.

A liner assembly 32 covers substantially the entire interior surface of the shell 12 except for the feed cone 22 and cone 28. The profile of the liner assembly 32 is preferably made as shown in the cutaway portion of FIG. 1. The liner elements are preferably made from short straight bars and plates as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 since they are more easily installed than longer sections extending the full length of the shell.

The liner assembly 32 includes a number of longitudinally or axially extending guide or anchor means 34 spaced at intervals around the cylindrical shell portion 12 as best shown in FIG. 3. The guide means 34 can be bolted to the shell 12 as shown in the center portion of FIG. 3 by bolt 35 but are preferably welded thereto as illustrated by welds 36 in FIG. 3 thereby forming upstanding portions on the shell extending radially inwardly therefrom. Welding the guide means 34 also serves to stiffen the shell as a secondary benefit as well as providing support for the lifter members. The guide means 34, as well as the liner members 38 and lifter members 42 to be subsequently described, may also be made in segments but, for the purpose of clarity, the individual segments will be referred to by the same number since they are almost identical except for length.

A liner member 38 is placed between each of the guide means 34. The liner members 38 shown in FIG. 3 are formed with axially extending radially tapered sides 40. A lifter member 42 is supported on each guide means 34. To accomplish this, the lifter member 42 includes a longitudinally extending passage or slot 44 into which the guide means 34 extends; thus, the lifter member 42 straddles the upstanding guide means 34.

The lifter members 42 also include longitudinally extending sides 46 tapering outwardly with respect to the central axis of the mill which correspond to the tapered sides 40 of the liner members which taper inwardly or converge toward the central axis of the mill. Thus, it can be seen that as the lifter member 42 is urged radially outwardly, the sides 46 of the lifter members 42 will wedge the liner members 38 against the periphery of the shell 12.

Another, perhaps better, arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 7 to be subsequently described in greater detail. Briefly, the liner members have straight sides rather than tapered sides. The width of the lifter is greater than the space between adjacent liners although the bottom portion of the lifter straddles the guide means between the lifters. Thus, shoulder portions are formed on the lifters which engage the top surfaces of the liners to urge the liners against the shell when the lifter is wedged into engagement with the guide or anchor means.

Similar liner members and lifter members are likewise secured to the ends 14 and 16 of the shell 12. For example, as best shown in FIG. 2, longitudinally abutting lifter segments form lifter members 48 extending from lifter members 42 on the outer shell 13 toward cone 28. The liner members comprise arcuate segments wedged between the lifter members. Thus, one liner member 52 extends between lifters 48. Another shorter liner segment 54 extends between lifters 48. Other liner segments 56 also extend between lifters 48. The entire inner surface of ends 14 and 16 are covered by the liner members, however, on discharge end 16, the outermost liners 52 and 54 include slots 66 to form grate 24 to permit ore fines to pass into space 26 for discharge through cone 30.

Grate 24 is spaced from shell end 16 by upstanding ribs 60 secured to shell 16, preferably by welding such as shown by welds 62 in FIG. 7. A flat rib 64 welded to rib 60 forms a base for supporting grate members 24 and to which guide members 34 are also welded. Openings or slots 66 in grate members 24 permit ore fines to pass into the pockets 68 defined by the shell member 16, grate members 24, and adjacent ribs 60. The ribs 60 (only one shown in FIG. 7) converge toward the center of the mill beneath lifters 48 thereby forming wedge shaped pockets 68 beneath grate liners 52, 54, and 56 extending from shell 13 to the intersection with cone 28. During rotation of the mill, the ore fines are carried upward by the pockets 68 to where the fines eventually spill out of the pockets into the discharge chute 30.

If desired, pockets 68 may be lined with an abrasion resistant material such as rubber lining 67 adhesively secured to the walls of the pockets. Alternatively, abrasion resistant steel such as Ni-hard may be used. Such linings prevent wear and pitting of the walls of the pockets'so that the fines are collected and discharged smoothly and continuously. Thegrate members 24 protect the lining 67 fromimpact by large pieces of ore and the lining itself resists abrasive wear.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the tapered liner means 38 are urged into radial contact withshell portion 13 by Wedging engagement with lifter means 42, such wedging engagement being provided by the coacting tapered surfaces 40 and 46 on the liner and lifter members respectively. Wedging of the lifter members 42 against the liner members 38 is accomplished, by the fastening or wedge means 80 between the lifter members and the upstanding portions of the shell 13 formed by the guide or anchor means 34.

More specifically, each axially extending guide means 34 secured to shell 13 extends into corresponding slots or passages 44 in lifter means 42. The lifters 42 and guides 34 include at least one set of transversely aligned passages 72 and 74 respectively. As best shown in FIG. 5, the passages 72 in the lifters 42 are preferably rectangular openings extending transversely therethrough. However, the passage 74 in guide means 34 preferably extends to the bottom of guide means 34 as viewed in FIG. 5 although it may also be a rectangular opening completely within the confines of guide 34.

Wedging engagement between correspondingly tapered surfaces 40 and 46 of the liners and liftersis provided by fastening means 80extending through passages 72 and 74 between the lifters and guide member portions of the shell. Fastening means 80 preferably comprises a pair of coacting tapered wedges or keys 82 and 84 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. As viewed in the center portion of FIG. 3, wedge 82 has a flat top surface 86 which is engageable with the top surface of passage 74 in guide 34; wedge 84 has a bottom surface 88 opposite to surface 86 which is engageable with the bottom surface of passage 72 in lifter member 42. Wedges 82 and 84 also have coacting facing surfaces 90a and 90b respectively that are tapered with respect to surfaces 86 and 88. It can be seen that surfaces 86 and 88 are movable toward and away from each other in response to relative longitudinal movement of coacting surfaces 90a and 90!), that is, wedge member 80 is expandable in a vertical direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

Wedge 84 preferably includes a tongue portion 92 which extends into the slot 44 of lifter 42 beneath surface 88. The tongue 92 prevents transverse movement of wedge 84 so that wedge 82 can be driven into wedging engagement between surface 90b and the top surface of passage 74 in guide member 34. Since guide 34 is rigidly secured to shell 12, then expansion of wedge member 80 causes surface 88 to bear against the bottom surface of passage 72 in lifter 42 thereby urging tapered surfaces 46 on lifter 42 into tight Wedging engagement with mating surfaces 40 on the liner members 38. This in turn urges the liner members 38 against the interior of shell 12.

Once the wedge 82 has been driven, such as by hammer blows, into Wedging engagement with wedge 84, it should be secured in place such as by a tack weld 94. To remove wedge 82 prior to replacing worn liners and lifters, the tack weld must be broken and wedge 82 driven out of Wedging engagement.

The passages 72 and 74 are preferably proportioned and located so that the top surface 86 of wedge 82 lies even with or below the top or work surface of the liner members 38 to protect the wedge member from pieces of ore falling against the lifters andliners. In order to place wedge member 80 below the surface of liners 38, recesses 96 are provided in the liners as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The recesses 96 are proportioned to provide ample room for insertion of key member 80 in passages 72 and 74.and for driving wedge 82 into engagement Recesses 96 may be milled radially to provide arcuate slots as shown in FIG. 7 or end milled to provide straight sided slots (not shown).

Since lengths of segments form the lifters 42 and 48, at least one wedge member 80 is needed for each segment. Longer segments may require two or more wedge members. The number selected should be ample to secure the lifters tightly in place so that they do not tend to overturn from impact by pieces of ore falling against them or from the weight of the ore being lifted.

A straight sided arrangement of lifters and liners is shown in FIG. 7. In this arrangement, the sides 40a of liners 38a extend substantially perpendicular to the top surfaces of liners 38a rather than being tapered as previously described. The top width of lifters 42a is greater than the space between adjoining lifters and the bottom width of the lifters is less than the space between the liners. Thus, shoulder portions 47 are formed which rest on the top surfaces of liners 38a and urge the liners against the shell 12, or against flat rib 64 as the case may be, as the lifters 42a are wedged into engagement with anchor ribs 34. Otherwise, the configuration of lifters 42a is much the same as lifter 42 since both include side flanges 45a and 45 respectively which extend alongside anchor member 34 and both include transverse passages 72 for receiving key means 80 or other key means to be subsequently described. In FIG. 7, the passage 74a is shown as being a rectangular opening in anchor 34 rather than extending completely to the shell 12 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

In the foregoing arrangement, there is less tendency for lifters 42a to roll about anchor means 34 than with the tapered arrangement since the shoulder portions 47 rest against the top surfaces of liners 38a thereby providing a wider bearing area. Furthermore, loosely held tolerances in positioning the guide anchors 34 has less effect on the height of the top surface of the shell than with the tapered arrangement. In addition, it may be difficult to weld the guide means 34 in a very straight line along the length of shell 12. Any waviness in guides 34 has less effect on the anchoring of the straight sides liners and lifters than with the tapered arrangement. It should be observed also that the weight of the ore on the lifting side of the mill during rotation may shift the lifters 42a so that one flange 45a rests flatly against guide means 34 thereby resulting in a stronger anchor.

Another type of wedge or key member may be used if desired, such as the one generally designated by number 100 on the right side of FIG. 3 and in FIG. 6. Key 100 comprises two similar wedges 102 and 104 with facing tapered surfaces 106a and l06b respectively. Wedge 102 includes an axially extending passage 108 in substantial coaxial alignment with a threaded passage 110 in wedge 104. A conventional hex head cap screw 112 is inserted in passage 108 and threaded into passage 100. As screw 112 is tightened, it causes relative movement between mating surfaces 106a, l06b thereby causing the outer surfaces 86a and 88a of wedges 102 and 104 to move farther apart. Thus, key member 100 can be forced into wedging engagement with passages 72 and 74 by inserting the key therein and tightening screw 112. It may be easily removed by loosening screw 112. Passage 108 in wedge 102 is made larger than the diameter of screw 112 to provide clearance for movement of wedge 102. The head of screw 112 is protected by ore fines which tend to pack in recesses 96 after a few hours of operation. However, as further protection, a conventional socket head cap screw (not shown) may be used with the head of the screw being in a counterbore in wedge 102. Passage 110 need not be threaded if screw 112 extends through wedge 104 and a threaded nut (not shown) is used for tightening the screw. Key means 100 may also be used I to wedge the lifter 42a of FIG. 7 into engagement with liners 38a and anchor means 34.

Wedge 104 may also include a tongue 92 a similar to tongue 92 on wedge 84 although there is less tendency for wedge 104 to move during tightening of the wedge member 100 than there is a tendency for wedge 84 of wedge member 80 to move when wedge 82 is driven in place.

Still another type of key member 130 is shown on the left side of FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4. Key 130 is substantially round as viewed in FIG. 4 and fits into corresponding round passages 72b in lifters 42 and 74b in guide means 34. Key 130 is formed by two chordal seggments I32 defining a substantially rectangular space therebetween in which a resilient material such as a rubber pad 134 is placed which tends to force the segments apart. Thus, as key 130 is inserted in passages 72b and 74b, the pad 134 is compressed thereby exerting a constant wedging force after insertion between the top surface of passage 74b and the bottom surface of passage 72b to maintain wedging engagement between the lifters 42 and guide means 34; this in turn urges the lifters 42 against liners 38.

The pad 134 is preferably bonded to the segments 132 to form a unitary assembly. In addition, the top segment viewed in FIG. 3 preferably includes a flat recess 136 for receiving the top surface of passage 74b; the bottom segment preferably includes a raised portion 138 which rests between flanges 45. This arrangement substantially locks key 130 in the passages 72b and 74b as shown.

Thus, it can be seen that any one of the key members 80, 100, or 130 can be used with equal advantage to secure the lifters to the guide means.

Both key members 80 and 100 have been described as including two cooperating wedges. However, a single wedge is sufficient, especially if one surface of passages 72 or 74 is correspondingly tapered. No doubt other fastening means can be devised, the essential feature being that the lifters 42 are urged tightly against the liners 38.

The liner members 38 and lifter members 42 may be installed in mill shell 12 in the following manner. The

shell 12 is rotated to place a guide member 34 in a substantially vertical position along the bottom of the shell as shown in FIG. 3. A lifter segment 42, for example, a center segment as viewed in FIG. 1, is placed over guide member 34. To control the height of the first lifter 42, it is helpful to first place a spacer 43 on top of guide member 34 as shown in FIG. 3; then, the lifter 42 is placed over the guide member and wedged in place by insertion of one or more wedge members 80, 100, or 130 in passages 72 and 74 with the wedge being driven into wedging engagement and secured as previously described. However, no spacer 43 is needed if a lifter of type 42a is used. Thereafter, axially abutting segments of lifter 42 are similarly installed along the guide member 34 of shell portion 13. Lifter members 48 are then installed on end portions 14 and 16, again using spacers 43 as a previously described if tapered lifters are used, and wedged in place by wedge members for example. With one complete line of lifters installed, liner members 38 are placed adjacent both sides of lifter members 42 as shown in FIG. 3. Liner members 52, 54, and 56 are similarly placed in position in shell end portions 14 and 16. Another line of lifter members 42 are then placed over the guide members 34 adjacent the liner members such as the ones shown on the left side of FIG. 3. As these lifter members are wedged in place by wedge members 80, the tapered sides 46 of the lifters will be wedged against the tapered sides 40 of the adjacent liner members 38, urging the other tapered side 40 of the liner against the tapered side of the centermost lifter 42. Thus, the liners are securely wedged between the lifters and urged outwardly against the shell.

Next, lifters 42 are secured to the guide member 34 to the right of the center lifter shown in FIG. 3 to wedge the liners 38 between the lifters as previously described. The liners and lifters are then installed in the shell end portions 14 and 16 in similar fashion. Additional lines of lifters and liners are installed up the sides of the mill within reach; the shell 12 may then be rotated to place an adjacent guide member 34 in substantially vertical position along the bottom of the shell, liners installed and wedged and so on until the shell is completely lined. The straight sided lifters 42a and liners 38a may be similarly installed.

If desired, the shell portion 13 may be completely lined with lifters and liners before the end portions 14 and 16 are lined.

Thus, the invention having been described in its best embodiment and mode of operation, that which is desired to be claimed by Letters Patent is:

1. An interior liner assembly for the shell of a grinding mill, comprising:

axially extending liner means spaced circumferentially within the major periphery of said shell and defining longitudinally extending spaces therebetween;

axially extending guide means secured to said shell in each of said spaces;

axially extending lifter means engageable with each of said guide means and with adjacent ones of said liner means; and

ing mill, comprising:

axially extending liner means spaced circumferentially within the major periphery of said shell and defining longitudinally extending spaces therebetween;

axially extending guide means secured to said shell in each of said spaces;

axially extending lifter means engageable with each of said guide means and with adjacent ones of said liner means; and

fastening means engageable with said lifter means and with said guide means for urging said lifter means into engagement with said liner means to maintain said liner means within said shell,

each of said guide means extending radially into a mating passage in the lifter means associated with said guide means;

each of said lifter means including at least one transverse passage in alignment with a corresponding passage in said guide means extending into said mating passage; and

said fastening means comprising wedge means in said aligned passages for urging said lifter means radially outward with respect to said guide means.

3. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein said wedge means comprises: i

a pair of mating key means having facing surfaces tapered with respect to a first surface engaging a side of said passage in said guide means and to a second surface engaging an opposing side of said passage in said lifter means,

said first and second surfaces movable away from each other in response to relative movement between said facing surfaces for urging said lifter means against adjacent ones of said liner means.

4. The liner assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said lifter means is maintained in engagement with adjacent ones of said liner means by a weld between portions of said facing surfaces of said key means.

5. The liner assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said wedge means includes aligned passages in said key means parallel to said first and second surfaces; and

screw means extending through said passages for moving one of said facing surfaces relative to the other to move said first and second surfaces away from each other for wedging said wedge means in said aligned passages.

6. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein said wedge means comprises:

a pair of mating key means having spaced facing surfaces defining an opening therebetween; and

an elastomeric insert in said opening urging said key means apart for resiliently wedging said wedge means in said aligned passages.

7. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein:

said liner means include recessed areas in the liner face thereof adjacent said fastening means for providing access thereto.

8. Anchor means for securing a liner assembly within the shell of a grinding mill, comprising:

a plurality of axially extending rib members secured to said shell and defining spaces therebetween for a plurality of liner members and for supporting a plurality of lifter members thereon; and

wedge means extending transversely through both said lifter members and said rib members for urging said lifter members against said liner members to maintain said liner members against said shell.

9. The anchor means of claim 8 wherein said rib I members are secured to said shell by welding.

10. The anchor means of claim 8 wherein said rib members are secured to said shell by screw means passing through said shell into said rib members. 

1. An interior liner assembly for the shell of a grinding mill, comprising: axially extending liner means spaced circumferentially within the major periphery of said shell and defining longitudinally extending spaces therebetween; axially extending guide means secured to said shell in each of said spaces; axiaLly extending lifter means engageable with each of said guide means and with adjacent ones of said liner means; and fastening means engageable with said lifter means and with said guide means for urging said lifter means into engagement with said liner means to maintain said liner means within said shell, the width of said lifter means being greater than the width of said spaces thereby forming shoulder portions engageable with top surface portions of adjacent ones of said liner means for urging said liner means against said shell when said fastening means is engaged with said lifter means and said guide means.
 2. An interior liner assembly for the shell of a grinding mill, comprising: axially extending liner means spaced circumferentially within the major periphery of said shell and defining longitudinally extending spaces therebetween; axially extending guide means secured to said shell in each of said spaces; axially extending lifter means engageable with each of said guide means and with adjacent ones of said liner means; and fastening means engageable with said lifter means and with said guide means for urging said lifter means into engagement with said liner means to maintain said liner means within said shell, each of said guide means extending radially into a mating passage in the lifter means associated with said guide means; each of said lifter means including at least one transverse passage in alignment with a corresponding passage in said guide means extending into said mating passage; and said fastening means comprising wedge means in said aligned passages for urging said lifter means radially outward with respect to said guide means.
 3. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein said wedge means comprises: a pair of mating key means having facing surfaces tapered with respect to a first surface engaging a side of said passage in said guide means and to a second surface engaging an opposing side of said passage in said lifter means, said first and second surfaces movable away from each other in response to relative movement between said facing surfaces for urging said lifter means against adjacent ones of said liner means.
 4. The liner assembly of claim 3 wherein: said lifter means is maintained in engagement with adjacent ones of said liner means by a weld between portions of said facing surfaces of said key means.
 5. The liner assembly of claim 3 wherein: said wedge means includes aligned passages in said key means parallel to said first and second surfaces; and screw means extending through said passages for moving one of said facing surfaces relative to the other to move said first and second surfaces away from each other for wedging said wedge means in said aligned passages.
 6. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein said wedge means comprises: a pair of mating key means having spaced facing surfaces defining an opening therebetween; and an elastomeric insert in said opening urging said key means apart for resiliently wedging said wedge means in said aligned passages.
 7. The liner assembly of claim 2 wherein: said liner means include recessed areas in the liner face thereof adjacent said fastening means for providing access thereto.
 8. Anchor means for securing a liner assembly within the shell of a grinding mill, comprising: a plurality of axially extending rib members secured to said shell and defining spaces therebetween for a plurality of liner members and for supporting a plurality of lifter members thereon; and wedge means extending transversely through both said lifter members and said rib members for urging said lifter members against said liner members to maintain said liner members against said shell.
 9. The anchor means of claim 8 wherein said rib members are secured to said shell by welding.
 10. The anchor means of claim 8 wherein said rib members are secured to said shell by screw means passing through said shell into said rib members. 